Manchester City is set to play their first match following a guilty verdict for multiple breaches of Premier League financial rules. Their opponent on Sunday is Liverpool, a club that has expressed grievances regarding financial losses during the seasons in question. Liverpool's Anfield crowd is expected to respond strongly during the match, as City manager Enzo Maresca and his players prepare for the anticipated backlash.
City has denied the charges and is appealing the verdict, which involves over 100 allegations of financial misconduct. This situation is considered one of the most significant scandals in the history of the Premier League, and the repercussions are expected to persist beyond the appeal process.
The charges against City span from 2009 to 2018. The timing of their match at Anfield, following the verdict, has drawn attention. Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville commented on the expected hostile atmosphere, suggesting there may be banners and chanting directed at City.
Liverpool believes they have been significantly impacted by City's financial practices, especially since they finished as runners-up to City in the 2018-19 and 2021-22 seasons. However, any retrospective awarding of titles to Liverpool would not apply to those seasons, as they won the Premier League in 2020.
Liverpool's fans are likely to argue that City's success was aided by rule-breaking, as determined by the independent panel. Liverpool also has a claim to a title from the 2013-14 season, where they finished two points behind City, a season marked by a memorable slip by club legend Steven Gerrard.
Aside from Phil Foden, who is suspended, no current City players were part of the squad during the period of the alleged breaches. Maresca, who took over as City’s first-team manager in June, faces the challenge of managing the team's performance amid the ongoing scrutiny.
The attendance of City’s ownership or board at the match, the pressure on the players, and the reactions of City supporters will be closely observed, especially given the potential sanctions that could include significant points deductions or expulsion from the Premier League. City currently leads the league with five wins from five matches, all occurring while the club faced accusations of financial breaches.